Fruits of Repentance (Matthew 3:1-12)
Gary McManus, 12/17/2017Part of the Christmas series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
December 17, 2017 Matthew 3:1-12 (p. 957 / p.967)
Don't Miss Christmas AGAIN THIS YEAR!
Operation Christmas child seeks to insure that
Children will not miss Christmas.
What about adults?
Many in this country do not know Jesus.
Pastor doesn’t want ANYONE to miss Christmas.
God is for you—[Angels words to shepherd,
Luke 2:10-11.] God demonstrated that God is for
you in Jesus the Christ.to save all of us. . .
The Bible does show us some people who
DID miss Christmas when Jesus was born:
High Priests, Herod, and (today’s message)
some of the Pharisees.
Interpretations of Judaism in Jesus’ day:
John the Baptizer
Sadducees
Herodians
Zealots
Pharisees
Essenes
These are the ones we KNOW.
Were Pharisees with Herod?
See Matthew 2:3-4
Either way, we see Pharisees come out
to see John the Baptizer at the Jordan
River.
(See Isaiah chapter 40)
John’s message: bear fruit of repentance!
John says This is how the Lord will deal with fruitless trees!
And as if John’s OWN message was
NOT DIRE ENOUGH, John tells them. . .
”Watch out, because someone greater is
coming after me. . .”
SOME OF THE PHARISEES. . .five times.
Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57)
Nicodemus (John 19:38-42).
A news story last week.
Even (Luke 19:8) Zacchaeus eventually
celebrated Christmas: changed life, restitution.
The Pharisees, according to John the Baptizer,
have NO interest in living NEW LIVES.
They missed Christmas.
Friends, don’t miss Christmas. . .
Do not depend on any “Security blanket”
or “security system.”
Depend on Jesus.(Mark 1:15)
Jesus himself would say. . .
No one comes to the Heavenly Father but through me. (John 14:6)
And Jesus issued his own warning. . .
Matthew 7:21, Luke 6:46, Luke 13:26-27.
Christmas has come in Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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